That was a bad August 3rd in 1975

 The day started lax, and then alarmingly sleep came again after having been absent for parts of  the night. It was strange to be wide awake at four listening to the bells sound four times for the hour and the four times to tell you which hour. It was a repeat, the second bells tolling an interval lower in pitch than the first.

And then counted seven, and it was bright.

Get up, make breakfast and then try to read the news. The Internet is not working properly, there are probably too many people watching Olympic sports from Paris.

Clear the room and sweep the floor. The cat comes in for a look, and maybe to remind her human that it is time to feed her. Take the used plates and things downstairs, feed the cat, take the wife's washing out of the machine and fill it with socks and underwear and shirts and trousers. Press the buttons and let the machine do its work.

Upstairs, decide that a few things are missing, A toothbrush will be needed in Berlin, and a few new underpants would be pleasant. 

At the drugstore, buy the toothbrush. Then walk up to the large clothing store and buy underpants, a package of three, medium fit. On the way out of the store see a pair of linen trousers. They are reduced in price, and appear to be quite nice. So buy them, surprised that they are really cheap

Walking home meet a really good looking woman from Brazil, a painter. She says that she is painting again, and needs brush cleaner and is going to go to the drug store to see if they have such a thing. She also breaks the news that a neighbour has died, an elderly woman. She had been sick for a very long time.

At one o'clock, meet up with the arty people for a cup of coffee. There is one person controlling the conversation, incredibly loud. She is a graphic artist who is working on becoming a fine artist and talks about herself without ending.

This is pain.

After a while, say goodbye and pay.

On the way back home meet the son of the woman who died of leukaemia. Offer him condolences.

At home, make a small online post for the mother. an artist who died forty nine years ago today. There is a small self portrait of her done in pencil and signed.

That was a bad August 3rd in 1975